Fixing Home Assistant Sensor ValueError: Invalid State

by Alex Johnson 55 views

Are you encountering a frustrating ValueError in your Home Assistant logs, specifically related to a sensor providing a state value that's not in the list of allowed options? You're not alone! This article will guide you through understanding and resolving this common issue, ensuring your smart home runs smoothly.

Understanding the Error

The error message you're seeing in your Home Assistant logs indicates that a sensor is reporting a state that your configuration doesn't expect. Let's break down the typical error:

Logger: homeassistant
Source: components/sensor/__init__.py:663
First occurred: November 13, 2025 at 4:57:47 PM (1145 occurrences)
Last logged: 1:19:59 PM

Error doing job: Task exception was never retrieved (None)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/update_coordinator.py", line 281, in _handle_refresh_interval
    await self._async_refresh(log_failures=True, scheduled=True)
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/update_coordinator.py", line 502, in _async_refresh
    self.async_update_listeners()
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/update_coordinator.py", line 190, in async_update_listeners
    update_callback()
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/update_coordinator.py", line 582, in _handle_coordinator_update
    self.async_write_ha_state()
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/entity.py", line 1026, in async_write_ha_state
    self._async_write_ha_state()
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/entity.py", line 1151, in _async_write_ha_state
    self.__async_calculate_state()
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/entity.py", line 1088, in __async_calculate_state
    state = self._stringify_state(available)
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/helpers/entity.py", line 1032, in _stringify_state
    if (state := self.state) is None:
                 ^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/usr/src/homeassistant/homeassistant/components/sensor/__init__.py", line 663, in state
    raise ValueError(
    ...<2 lines>...
    )
ValueError: Sensor sensor.smart_charging_status provides state value 'error', which is not in the list of options provided

This traceback reveals a few key points:

  • The Sensor: The error specifically mentions sensor.smart_charging_status. This is the entity causing the problem. It could be any custom-defined sensor you have set up.
  • The State Value: The sensor is reporting a state value of 'error'. In other words, the sensor's current status is being reported as having an error.
  • The Problem: Home Assistant's configuration for this sensor doesn't include 'error' as a valid or expected state. The system has defined states that it expects, so whenever it receives a state that is not defined it throws an error.

Why does this happen?

This issue often arises when:

  • Custom Integrations: You're using a custom integration (like the one mentioned, DasBasti,SmartHashtag) that hasn't been fully updated to handle all possible states of the device it's monitoring.
  • API Changes: The external API that the integration relies on has changed, and the sensor is now reporting a new state that the integration doesn't recognize.
  • Configuration Errors: There might be a mistake in your sensor's configuration, such as a missing or incorrect state_class definition.

Let's explore some solutions to fix this annoying error.

Solutions to Resolve the ValueError

Here's a structured approach to tackling this ValueError:

1. Identify the Integration and Sensor

First, pinpoint the exact integration causing the issue. The log message gives you the sensor's entity ID (sensor.smart_charging_status in the example) and often hints at the integration name. In this case, it is a charging component.

2. Update the Integration

  • Check for Updates: Ensure you're running the latest version of the custom integration. Developers often release updates to address compatibility issues and unexpected state values. Access HACS and select updates.
  • Manual Updates: If you installed the integration manually, check the developer's repository (e.g., on GitHub) for newer versions and follow their update instructions.

3. Modify the Integration (If Necessary and Possible)

Caution: Modifying integration code requires some programming knowledge. Proceed with care and back up your configuration before making changes.

  • Examine the Code: Look at the integration's code (specifically the sensor definition) to understand how it handles state values. The goal is to identify where the list of allowed states is defined.

  • Add the Missing State: In the integration's code, add 'error' to the list of allowable states for the smart_charging_status sensor. This will tell Home Assistant to accept 'error' as a valid state.

    Example (Conceptual):

    # Original code (example)
VALID_CHARGING_STATUSES = ['charging', 'idle', 'full']

# Modified code
VALID_CHARGING_STATUSES = ['charging', 'idle', 'full', 'error']

  • Restart Home Assistant: After making changes to the integration code, restart Home Assistant for the changes to take effect.

4. Handle the State in Your Configuration

If directly modifying the integration isn't feasible, you can use Home Assistant's templating capabilities to handle the unexpected state.

  • Create a Template Sensor: Define a new template sensor that transforms the smart_charging_status sensor's state into a value that Home Assistant understands.

    Example configuration.yaml entry:

    template:
  - sensor:
      - name: